Apparatus for producing bags



July 12, 1949.

Filed OCt. 2, 1945 L. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS 8 Shets-Sheet 1 In van for Lew/l: 6078/7 y 12, 1949- B. EATON 2,475,950

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS Filed Oct. 2, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenfor Lew/3 B. 5672:?

'J ANZ Q (mm (47 roe/Yer July 12, 1949. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed'oct. 2, 1945 ,4 TTOENEY July 12, 1949. B. EATON 2,475,950 Y APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS Filed Oct. 2, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 3r MQLM'QLM ATTOQ/VE Y L. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS- July 12, 1949.

8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001;. 2, 1945 [nvenfor Lew/"3 3 E072 0 Ill m 6 A V I" w'lllllllnhwwv m d). M Q Lu-MQLJ'S (4770 2115? July 12, 1949. L. B. EATON 2,475,950

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS Filed Oct. 2, 1945 8 She ets-Sheet 7 Invcnfor Lew/a 3.- 54

ArroeNe: 7

July 12, 1949.

Filed Oct. 2, 1945 L.B.EATON APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Lew/.5 B 50750 ATTQQNEY M Quwm- Patented July 12, 1949 NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BAGS Lewis B. Eaton, Quincy, Mass., assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation,

Limited, Quincy,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing bags.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of apparatus for simultaneously making and filling a plurality of bags, particularly paper tea bags, during each cycle of operation in an eilicient, economical, rapid and practical manner.

With this general object in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the apparatus for producing bags and in the Various structures, arrangements and cominations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a tea bagging machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of web guiding means to be hereinafter referred to; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation partly in cross section of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan View of preliminary strip forming members and tea guiding funnels as viewed from the line tl of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation of the drives to the tea feeding mechanisms; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5; Fig. '7 is a plan view of part of the driving mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5; Fig.

8 is a plan view in cross section taken on the line 3-4; of Fig. 1 showing the cam shaft and main driving mechanism of the machine; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the cam shaft as viewed from the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10- is a similar view as viewed from the line ll!l of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a cross sectional plan view taken on the line I l-l l of Fig. 1 and illustrating one half of the paper gripping and advancing mechanism on one side, and, on the other side, illustrating one half of the sealing mechanism, it being understood that similar cooperating mechanisms are provided on each side; Fig. 12 is adetail view in side elevation of one of the heat sealing members illustrated in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is aside elevation detail of one of the heat sealing members arranged to cooperate with thatshown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a front elevation of .the sealing member shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a plan view in cross section taken on the line I-l5 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the strip severing and bag discharging mechanisms; Fig. 16 is a detail plan view of parallel linkage for operating the severing mechanism shown in Fig-15; Fig. 17 is a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 18 is an enlarged plan of one of the discharge chutes; Fig.

19 is an end View detail of the same; Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the tea releasing gates and operating mechanism therefor; and Fig. 21 is a plan view in cross section taken on the line 2l--2l of Fig. 20.

In general, the present invention contemplates novel apparatus for making individual bags, such as tea bags from an elongated web or strip of bag forming material in accordance with the method disclosed in the United States Patent to Patterson, No. 2,272,530, issued February 10, 1942, and, in general, comprises an improvement on the apparatus disclosed in the United States Patent to Patterson, No. 2,385,229. The apparatus herein disclosed is particularly designed as a high production capacity machine and includes a plurality of mechanisms for simultaneously performing the various operations upon a plurality of and at least two of such bag forming strips.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, in general the present bag forming and filling machine is provided with a plurality of web withdrawing mechanisms herein shown as two such mechanisms, indicated generally at l0, l2, each of which is arranged to withdraw a predetermined length of bag forming material I4, I5 from supply rolls l6, I! respectively thereof. The bag forming material preferably comprises a porous, fibrous material containing a thermoplastic, pressure-responsive binding material so that when two layers or plies of the material are brought together in face to face contact and subjected to the application of heat and pressure they will become and remain adhesively united. The webs of bag forming material l4, l5 are advanced past bag forming mechanisms, indicated generally at IS, 29, which operate to simultaneously fold each web longitudinally along a medial line to bring together the two half sections of each web preparatory to forming strips of connected bags. Each web of bag-forming material is preferably drawn over its respective bag-forming mechanism by a plurality and as herein shown by two gripping and advancing mechanisms indicated generally at 22, 24 operative to simultaneously advance each strip one bag length each cycle of operation of the machine and to present each strip in operative relation to bag sealing mechanisms 26, 28 arranged to simultaneously seal each strip along a transverse zone 30 and an adjacent longitudinal zone 32 during each sealing operation to form a strip of bag sections closed on one side by the folded edge 34 and heat-sealed along sucii m other to permit adjustment toward and from each other. The guide member all is riveted to a base member 86 and the guide member 18 is adjustably attached to the base member by a bolt as operative in a slot 90, in order to adjust the distance "betweii the guides tor"-conform "to-"the width of the web. Theab'ase member 86 is yieldingly held to a frame member 92 by springs 9d provided on bolts 9-6 secured to the frame member 92 and operative in slots 58in ithebase mem: her. With this constructionthe' position of the webs with relation to the feed rollers and their respective web folding mechanisms emay ?-be changed by manually and yielding-ly movi-ngethe base member in one direction or-the other, ahandle I being provided for eonveniencein making such adjustments. 1

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, each web withdrawing mechanism comprises the driven roller-lfll, which may and preferably will comprise a cork faced roller; and, :the pooperating zidler roll 14.

Each roller 12 is,rotatabllllmqi htfidiuponz a5 cross shaft I0 I 'journaled in:the-;, machine frame and is arranged to be intermittently rotated to .advance the web a predetermined length leach cycle of operation through: pawl .and-ratchet mechanisms :in'dicated' generally-at Hi2, .eThe; ratchet Of each ing a link [l4-the.latter;beingconnected toits respective vertically reciprocated, ;-gripper mechanism 22;. 24 to be hereinafter described. Thus, inoperation, .the downward pull, of :the l web and the withdrawing operationsocc irsimultaneously although, as previouslydescribed, the amount of withdrawallisin excess of .the amount required for a single bag length to produce ,the slack condition-of the web, asvdesired. (Suitable provision may and preferably will be provided to vary the amount of 'rotation-onthe roller, 12. by adjustment l of the pawl landratchet mechanism w ereby vary the length of web withdrawn.

The cooperating idler .rolls 1.4 are rotatablycarriedbetween-arms .I Ildwhich are pivotally mounted upon. cross shafts lBBL-extending between the 11 frame member-slid. Duringthe feeding or withdrawing operationthe rollers. rest. by their, own

weight againstithe websin; cooperating, engage- .ment with thedrivenpork.facedjrol e TZto effect feedin of the webs'ther betw en, B ov is made for rocking the ro11e.rs.,.M.-,- ut of.- feeding engagement at the,.endpfthefeedingstroke so as to release thewebslalld,J50v permit, the slack to be taken up as abovedescribed'. For. this purpose,

as herein showda pairof rams! llarmnwd to rotate with the pawl carriers are provided which engage the ends or thes ol e 15,5 1 t fill of the feeding stroke. In order toprevent the loosely mounted rollers 12 from beingro'tated in areverse direction during the retraction ofthe pawl or during the; take up operation a pair of arms l l2 pivotally mounted at! 'are arranged toengage a hub of -each:roller inyielding and frictional engagement therewith; I i-this manner,

the relationship between the pawl and its ratchet,

the latter being movable with the roller 12, is not disturbedso that-a uniform length of tl b maybewithdrawn during each; yele of-opera- Referring now rants; l'je "sear, du-ring--the=- 6 downward pull upon the webs by the gripper mechanisms 22, 24, the webs are drawn past the forming mechanisms I8, 20 which, as herein shown, include preliminary forming members or guide plates H6. As best shown in Fig. 4 each uide plate H6 is substantially V-shaped and is arranged to engage its respective web along a medial line longitudinally thereof to cause the sides of the webs to be brought toward each other during the downward pull thereon. In order to permit adjustment Of the guide plates with relation to their respective webs each plate is'carried on an arm H8 adjustably secured in a groove 1% formed in a bracket I22 attached to the machine fram'fso as to permit adjustment of the plates toward or from their respective webs. Each plate is also mounted to rock on a pivot I24 in the end of each arm I It to permit angular adjustment of the plates with relation to the sides of the webs, a handle i26 being provided on each plate for convenience in making such adjustment. Each plate may and preferably will be frictionally held to its pivotal mounting to hold it in its adjusted position. By such angular adjustment of the plates with relation to theirrespective web sides the length of each side may be changed slightly to-cause them to come'together evenly and to be folded on a medial line, as described.

After passing the preliminary forming members I Hi the webs are engaged by stationary filling tubes its which form a part of the filling mechanisms 36, 3?. Each filling tube 425 is substantially U-shaped in cross section, and, as each web is drawn downwardly its filling tube, in cooperation with stationary brushes mil, I32 effect folding of its respective web along its medial line in-condition to be engaged by the sealing mechanisms 25, 23 to form the sealed containers. As best shown in Fig. 3, the brushes its, Hill are adjustably supported from cross shafts 83 3. In practice, the filling tubes E28 preferably taper slightly in a downward longitudinal direction so that a cross section of each tubev adjacent the lower brush I32 is thinner than the preceding section. Thus, the sides of each web are gradually brought together, the brushes acting .to gently wipe the web about the tube and provide a minimum of frictional resistance whereby relatively fragile material may be handled with a minimum of strain upon the bag forming material. As illustrated in Figs. 20, 21, the-longitudinal open edges of the strips formed about the filling tubes l 28 may be guided between flat plates I29 attached to the sides of the tubes Upon termination of the web advancing movements and after the slack has been taken up as above described, the webs are inposition tobe operated upon by the heatsealing mechanisms 26, 23, each of which, as best shown'in Figs. ll, 12 and 13 comprises a pair of horizontally reciprocal, generally L-shaped. sealing members 135, I31. One of each pair of sealing members, herein shown as I35, is preferably provided with electrical heating elements indicated generally at l36, the numeral its indicating a thermostat unit to control the temperature of the sealing memher. The face of each of the heated sealing members I35 is preferably'serrated, as'i'n'di'cated in Fig. 14. The cooperating sealing member l l'is notv heated and may comprise a"yieldable ma- "terial, preferably of a rubberlilce composition, against which the web ispresseu during the seal- Referring now to Figs. 1 and 11 provision is made for effecting simultaneous operation of the sealing members I35, I 31 to effect sealing of their respective webs, and, as herein shown; one of each pair of cooperating sealing members I31, is mounted in a horizontally reciprocal slide I48 operative in a stationary bracket I42 attached to the machine frame, and, the cooperating members I35, of each pair are similarly mounted in a slide member I44 operative in a, bracket I48. The slides I 48, I44 are arranged'to be horizontally reciprocated by cams I48 mounted fast-on vertical cam shafts I58, II. As herein shown, each cam I48 cooperates with its respective roller I58 carried by each slidemember I48, I44,to effect inward movement of the slides to bring the cooperative sealing members into sealing engagement with the folded webs, and, springs I56 are arranged to urge the slides in an outward direction to separate the sealing members, The vertical shaftsISEl, I5i are arranged to be rotated from the maincam shaft I88 by bevel gears I82, I88 to the vertical shaft F58, thence through bevel gears 58,168 toa horizontal shaft H8 and finally through bevel gears Ill, I72 to the vertical shaft I 5|, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, each sealing unit is attached to its respective reciprocatory slide I48, I44 by a tongue and groove connection I14 to permit-vertical adjustment thereof by bolts I18 operative in slots I18 provided in the slides in order to effect vertical registration of opposing sealing elements. Provision is also made for permitting slight lateral and angular adjustment of the heated sealing members I85, in their supporting members. As best shown in Fig. 14, the

L-shapedsealing members are supported in a blocl: I38 provided with laterally movable members 582, L83 operative in grooves formed in the block and the members I82, I33 may be laterally adjustedin the groovesby adjusting screws I84 supported in bearing members I86. In order to provide angular adjustment. the sealing-member I35 is pivoted at I85 in its movablehupporting member I83, and the upper end of the sealing member I35 is provided with a pin I81 operating in a slotted portion I88 of the uppermovable supporting member I82. Thus, in operation, by adjusting the screws I 84 inwardly lot-outwardly the sealing member I35gmay be moved laterally and angularly toefi'ect registration with its cooperating sealing member I 3?.

Provision is also'made in the preferred embodimer t of the invention for adjusting, the sealing pressure of the units 28,. 28,- and as best shown -1I1 Figs. 11 and 12, each supporting head I88 for the unheated sealing members I 3'! is arranged to be adjusted inwardly or outwardly by a knurled and threaded coupling member I88 co operating with thesupportinghead. As herein shown, each head I88 is bolted through a slotted connection I92 to an extensionjls l secured to the slide I48. In operation retation of the'coupling member I98 effects extension or retraction of the sealing members and when the desired pressure is obtained the supporting-heads may-be secured in their adjusted position for most efficient sealing operation;v i i From the description thus far; it will be observed that the L-shaped sealing members effect sealing of the webs along transverse zones 38 and adjacent longitudinal zones' 32, the latter comprising the open edges of the folded strips, and

of the bag sections, leaving the edges of the strips open beyond the sealed portions and in communication with the open tops of ,the partially formed bagsections. Immediatelylupon engagement of the sealing members with the webs, or directly thereafter, provision is made for depositing a charge of the commodity such as tea between the open edges of the webs and into the partially formed bag sections. As herein shown, the forming and filling tubes I28 are arranged to receive a supply of the tea from the filling mechanisms 38, 37 and 'to release predetermined quantities of the tea into the partially formed bag sections, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3 and 5,'the present tea filing mechanisms 36, 31 include supply hoppers 288 in which a supply of the tea is stored. Each supply hopper is provided with a rotary feeding'tube 282 one end of which is arranged to be rotated within the supply hopper to effect withdrawal of a continuousuniform stream ofthe tea, and to deposit the stream into a guide funnel 284 which guides the tea into the forming and filling tube I28 of'each filling unit. As herein shown, each feeding tube 282 is arranged'to be rota-ted through connections from the horizontal shaft I78, the latter being provided with a bevel gear 285 at one end thereof cooperating with a pinion 286 fast on a horizontal shaft 288. The shaft 288 is connected to an intermediate shaft 2I8 by a chain and sprocket connection 2I2 to effect continuous rotation thereof. The bag-filling unit 35 is driven fromthe shaft 2 I8 through cooperating spur gears 2I4 and 2I6 the latter being i otatably mounted on a shaft 2I8 and formed integrally with a ratchet 228. The ratchet 228 is arranged to cooperate with aspring-pressed pawl 222 pivotal'ly mounted in a pawl carrier 224 fast on the shaft 2I8. The shaft 2I8 is also provided with a bevel gear 226 which meshes with a bevel gear 228 mounted on, and arranged to effect rotation of the feed tube 282 of the filling unit 36. The filling unit 31 is similarly driven from the shaft 2 I 8through a gear train 238, 2,32 and 234 toobtain the desired change in direction of a-corresponding shaft 236, which is provided with similar bevel gear connections to the corresponding feed tube 282. The supplyhoppers are provided with the usual pawl and ratchet driven stirrers 238 for "maintainingthe tea in a loose and freely fiowable the supply hopper is provided with anelongated,

. Veslhaped slottedtportion arranged to permitthe tea'to freely enter the tubeand to effect a substantially uniform withdrawal therefrom. Provision is also made for adjusting the angularposition of the tube '282 to effect the .feedingof more oriless tea, and as hereinshown, an extension 248 from a pivotal bearing member 242.for. thefeedin'g' tube 282 is arranged to be engaged bya knurled adjusting nut 244 carried on a vertical :th'readed rodf246. ,7

. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

provision is made-for disengaging either one or a s 'desiredsuchlas, for example, when the supply j-of-paper thesupply of tea' is depleted from .oneor the other side of the-duplex mechanisms.

For this purpose each mechanism is provided with a manually operated pawl stop-24 8 oneof which is'shown'i'nFig. 7; The pawl stop 248 is pivotally mounted at 250 and is arranged to be rocked from an inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 7, to a position to present the pawl engaging end 252 of the stop into the path of the tail of the pawl. 222. to, thus effect disenga m thereof from its ratchet. .A spring 25,4;ponnected to the pawl stop 248, is arranged to hold the same in the position to which it is moved. The pawl stop may be provided with a finger 256 for manually moving the stop, and'suitable pins 258; may be provided against which the;stop may rest when moved to one or the other of its positions.

In operation, the above described tea-yfeeding tubes 202 are arranged to effectLa: continuous uniform stream or flow of tea fromzthe supply hopper into each formin andfilling tube I28. In order to provide definite predetermined ;quan titles or charges of tea for each bag section, each filling tube I28 is provided with an intermittently operated shutter or gate 260 at the lower end thereof which is arranged to release successive charges of teainto successive bag sections, As best showninaFigs. 3, 20-, and 21 the shutters 260 of each filling :tube 128 are arranged to-besimulclosing .of its respect ve shutterrthrou h;ensa ement with thelowerendof, a vertically movable unitindicated rgenerallyat 269 arranged to be reciprocated--,by-a-cam: 210 faston the shaft H0. The upper endoftheunit zfiilpomprises' a U'- shaped member-.21! provided. with a .rollerZlZ cooperating with 'the' cam 210.; Ashereinshown, the U-shaped member 2 is supported for vertical reciprocation in a; block 214 loosely mounted on 'the shaiti'lll and slidingly tengageable with the two arms" of theU=shaped member:21l The lower end of the member 2"||-is-provided with a rod 216 slidingly supported at its l'ower -end in a bracket 28!]; 'The rod 216 is providedwith' a cross piece 282 having a stud 284 depending from either '5 end thereof, each-'stud-284 being provided with a nut Z86 at'its lower'endi Asillustrated inFig. '20, the arms 268 of 'each; shutter extendbetween' the cross'pi'ec'e' 282and'itsrespective nut '286 so that in'operation the cam 210' will effect simultaneous opening ofthe shutters 260 by engagement of the nuts 286 with the extended ends of the arms '268 when'the' 'reciprocatory unit 269 is elevated. Each arm 26B 'is'furtherprovided with an ear 288 connected by a common spring 290" which normally urges each shutter intoits closed position when permitted to do so by the cam 21g. AspringZBZ, as shown" i Fig? 3; mayaisc' s provided to hold the roller Z'lZ of reciprocatoryiuiiitjfiii against- From the dc scr iptioii thus far it "will be observed that in each cycle in the normal operation of the machine a plurality 'of"parti'al 1y for'rn'ed bag sections sealed 'atftheir bottoms and on one of their sidesQand, the bag sections are provided wi asha e 9f eacl svie th up it h port on. .o cea h We en..-v T reaf jii ew are simultaneously advanced one baglength as above" describe hereu onas ne s n pera/tion closes he ope side 9f. th precedin i p ay b nr rid d w hza si ner;

taneous advancement of the webs. Each unit carries two grippers 300 for cooperation with the opposing-grippers of the unit 24, and, as herein shown, the grippers are mounted to be horizontally reciprocated into and out of engagement [with the web and;;;also, to be vertically reciprocated a; distance of one bag length. The gripper members 300 of the unit 22 are horizontally supported upon individual rods 3512 slidably carried in a symmetrical bracket 304 carried between and secured: to a pair of vertically reciprocable rods 306, and, the grippers of the opposing unit 2 1 are similarly mounted, the supporting bracket being carried between and secured to a second pair of vertically reciprocal rods 30 8; Eachrod.-3QZ is provided with, a coil spring 3L9; interposed between a portion'of its supporting bracket and a collar 1H2; fixed to the'rod which tends tour-Se the, grippers inwardly into i cooperating engage-- ment .with their opposing ;gi'ippers ;and the ba forming strips. 7 The. rods 302 of, each unit are J i d-a i out xe d by a tie iee '3 aaf ea l ee ca ri -a q erdl arran d t cooperate with elongated cams 3L3, securedto he ,y al cam sh 5 re t l jhusi t p a ion if-theme member 5 i -e c u tfitc. .zare h riz y f c oca d i n ou l -rinto;andpfr m gagen ent with the webs, the springs 310 efiecting a yielding 'engagenienttherewith, and the cams 3L3, operating to positively separate the grippers.

The grippers may-and preferably-willbe provided witha relatively-soft facing 320 such as of rubber or cloth, order to gently engage the webs, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the uppe tion of each Referring now Big. 8, each pair of vertical shafts 306, 308 between which; the corresponding brackets 364 are supported are arranged to be .vertically reciprocatedso as to bodily move the gripping-units oneibag length and return, during each cycle of operation of the machine. As herein shown, bothpairs of rods 3B6, 308 are arranged to be reciprocated byasingle camQZiisecu-red to the main cam shaft [.50. Each pairof rods 3%, tllti are slidingly ab ntes'rcr .vernea1 reciprocation in suitable bearings provided in the ma china fr anile an a'sfshbwa in Fig flfl'the ends of one plair of rods, herein shown. fit are secured at-their lower' ends to a yok shaped tie piece 326 having a slotte'd central portion for engagement with va slide block 312 8 mounted on one end of ia s ua' 3 30 carrie d in .a lever 33'2" fast on a rocker shaft 334. Q'The. other endfbf. the stud 33B is provided with'a roller 33Q .cooperating with the w ngs 24.; .A slsenin figlflfl pltlie rids of the other pair triads 30s are secured atTt'heii-"lower ends toa slmilaryoke-shaped tie.pie ce.3.2.fif which adj ustably. Secured to a lev e'r 3.40, a solfast on the operated to; .cause' webs to be grasped at the transverse sealed areas of the connected bag seiiees et i lws i h s l e guide 2.1-1 nisms whereupon the; s'trip'sare' moved down one bag length. The grippers are then separated and returned to a position in alignment with the succeeding sealed portions in readinessto grasp the web for a succeeding cycle of operation. It will be observed that the cams 3I8, for effecting the horizontal movement are elongatedso that the rollers 3I6 are in engagement withtheir respective cams during the vertically reciprocating movement above described.

As previously stated, the above described gripper mechanisms are operatively connected to their respective pawl and fratchet mechanisms I02 for rotating the withdrawing rollers I2 whereby to effect simultaneous withdrawal and advancement of each strip and, as herein shown, each link I04 is connected to a stud I03 extended from a clamp member I05 secured to-the upper end of one of each pair of vertically reciprocable rods 306, 308.

Referring now to Figs. 15, 16 and 17 each of the simultaneously operating strip severing mechanisms 38, 39, includes a' pair of shears 350, 352 arranged to sever the endmost b'ag section from its respective strip to form an individual filled and sealed bag; In the operation of the machine, the strip advancing mechanisms operate to present the endmost bag sections into operative position with relation to the shears so'as to effect severance of the strip through the connecting transverse sealed portion 30. Each shearing unit is mounted in similar bearing brackets 354 at tached to the machine frame. The upper shear blade 350 of each'unit is secured to the upper end of a central shaft 356 which is rotatably mounted in a sleeve or hollow shaft 358 in turn rotatably supported in the bearing bracket 354. The lower shear blade 352, mounted to cooperate with the upper blade, is secured to the upper end of the sleeve 358. A coil spring 360 provided at the lower end of each central shaft 356 is arranged to yieldingly maintain the upper shear in cooperative engagement with the lower shear of each severing unit 33, 39. I

As illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17, the central shafts 356 of each unit, to which theupper shear blades 350 are attached, are arranged to be simultaneously oscillated bya cam" 362 fast on the main cam shaft I60. A cooperating cam roll 364 carried by a lever 366, pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 368, is connected at its upper end by a link 310 to an arm 312 fast on the lower end of one of the shafts 356. As best shown in Fig. 16, the arm 312 is connected by a link 314 to a corresponding arm 312 fast on the lower end of the corresponding shaft 356. The sleeves 358 of each unit, to which the lower shear blades 352 are attached, are also arranged to be simultaneously oscillated by a second cam 3'I6 fast on the main cam shaft I60. Acooperating cam roll 318 carried by a similar lever'380 also pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 368, is connected at its upper end by a link 382 to an arm 384 fast on the lower end of one of the sleeves 358. The arm 384 is connected by a link 386 to a corresponding arm 388 fast on the lower end of the corresponding sleeve 358. Thus,in the operation of the machine, successive endmost bag sections of each web are simultaneously severed from the strips as the latter are advanced by the gripper mechanism. 7

During the strip advancing operation, each strip is brought to rest with its endmost bag section deposited in corresponding delivery chutes 390, 392 so that when the endmost bag sections are severed as above described, each individual Ebag is-pQsitiQnedupright in the receiving end of its chute. Immediately upon severance-of the e'n'dmost bag sections, the bag transferring mechanisms 40, 4I operate to advance the bags from their severed positions, along their respective chutes, andinto engagement with the previously severed bags which are stacked upright in the 'chutes for convenience in removing the finished bags from the chutes. As best'shownin; Figs, 18, 19, one sidewall of each delivery'chutepreferably the wall adjacent the fin or sealed'edge of the upright bag section, is provided with an elongated and extended coil spring 394' arranged to engage said edges of the bags to effectively maintain the latter in an upright condition as theya re moved along their respective chutes. As

shown in Fig. 15, the delivery chutes 390, 392 are preferably arranged to guide the bags from corresponding strips to opposing sides of"the'ma-,

chin'e. -As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 15 each transfer mechanism 40, 4I comprises a pusher arm 396 which is clamped to a gear 398 mounted for rotation about one or the other of the'sleeve members mechanism of the'machine includes an electric motor 420 connected by a belt 422 to a pulley 424 forming part of a clutch mechanism indicated generally at 426 and arranged to-beengaged to 'drive a gear 428 upon movement of the clutch handle 430. the main cam shaft -432, 434 and 436, the latter being fast on the cam shaft.

The gear 428 is arrangedto drive I60 through a gear train While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described,

it willbe understood that the invention'may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a tea bagging machine of the character described, in combination, web advancing and Withdrawing mechanism adapted for simultaneous operation upon at least two strips of bag forming material, said mechanism including two pairs of cooperating horizontally and vertically movable grippers arranged to advance each strip one bag length each cycle of operation, means for supporting said grippers including two pairs of vertically movable rods, a bracket supported by and movable with each pair of vertical rods, .means carried by each bracket for sliding movements thereon toward and from the other bracket, one of each pair of said grippers being mounted on each said means, an operating member engageable with each of said means to effect simultaneous movement of said means and grippers toward and from each other, and operating connections including a single cam arranged to effect simultaneous vertical reciprocation of said two pairs of rods.

2. In a tea bagging machine having means for vertically supporting and intermittently advancing two strips of folded bag forming material and two pairs of cooperating and simultaneously operating horizontally reciprocable sealing mem- 

